In the world, only the British can make fish and chips and roast dinners better than anyone else. Anyone that tries to argue otherwise – well, they’re wrong. This Slow Cooker Roast Beef can’t be beaten for convenience or taste!.
You can find many “one pot roast” recipes for the slow cooker online. These recipes include potatoes and say to put everything in the crockpot and leave it to cook. Boiled potatoes in gravy? No thanks. It should be against the law to eat a roast without oven-baked roast potatoes! They also use a brisket cut of beef, which is better for recipes like our Slow Cooker Spicy Beef Tacos that call for pulled beef and doesn’t slice very well.
Bec and I have spent a long time refining this recipe. We’ve tried different cuts of beef, different gravy, different ways of serving the veg with it. When we had that “OH MY GOD THIS IS AMAZING” moment, we knew we’d nailed it!.
As a busy home cook and slow cooker enthusiast, I’m always on the hunt for the perfect cut of beef to make a mouthwatering, fall-apart tender roast in my trusty crockpot Through plenty of trial and error, I’ve learned that not all roasts are created equal when it comes to slow cooking. The right cut can make all the difference between a succulent Sunday supper and a dried-out disappointment
In this article, I’ll share my experiences and expert research to highlight the best beef roast options for slow cookers Keep reading to learn how to select a cut that will cook up super tender and flavorful after a relaxing day of simmering away in your crockpot
Why Chuck Roast Shines in a Slow Cooker
Without a doubt, the number one best beef roast cut for slow cookers is a boneless chuck roast. This affordable cut comes from the shoulder area of the cow, which gets a serious workout, making the meat incredibly flavorful but also quite tough.
However, the chuck roast’s bounty of collagen melts into luscious gelatin when braised low and slow. This transforms the meat into a fork-tender texture that pulls apart easily. No other roast I’ve tried can beat chuck roast when it comes to yielding delicate, moist beef perfection from a crockpot.
Runner Up: Brisket
While chuck reigns supreme, brisket makes another excellent choice for pot roasting in a slow cooker. Brisket comes from the chest area of the cow and contains lots of hard-working muscles interlaced with fat and collagen.
Similar to chuck roast, brisket requires extended moist heat to break down its toughness. When cooked for 8+ hours, it turns staggeringly tender and juicy. Brisket also brings that satisfying smoky, barbecue flavor. Opt for a whole untrimmed brisket packer cut.
Honorable Mentions: Round and Rump Roasts
While they can’t match the tenderness of chuck roast, round roasts like bottom round and eye of round work decently well in a slow cooker and may be easier to find. They lack the marbling of chuck but still get reasonably tender.
Rump roast is another respectable choice. Be sure to cook rounds and rumps for a full 8-10 hours on low since they benefit from more time to soften up. Sprinkle with a meat tenderizer too.
Cuts to Avoid
On the flip side, there are certain cuts I don’t recommend using in a slow cooker:
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Tenderloin – This pricey, ultra-tender cut turns dry and overcooked when braised. Better for quick, high-heat cooking.
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Ribeye roast – This fatty cut can turn greasy when slow cooked. Better roasted in the oven.
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Sirloin tip – Lacks the collagen needed to get tender and moist.
Tips for Maximum Tenderness
Aside from cut, a few other tips will help ensure tender, succulent slow cooker roast beef:
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Generously season with salt and pepper – salt aids tenderizing.
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Sear roast first to lock in juices before slow cooking.
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Add aromatic veggies like onions, carrots and garlic.
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Use a flavorful braising liquid like beef broth.
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Allow roast to rest before slicing for juicier meat.
Sample Recipe with Chuck Roast
To highlight my favorite cut for crockpots, here’s a simple Slow Cooker Chuck Roast Recipe that always turns out super tender and savory:
Ingredients:
- 3-4 lb boneless chuck roast
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp each salt and pepper
- 2 lbs potatoes, halved or quartered
- 2 cups baby carrots
Instructions:
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Trim excess fat from chuck roast and season all over with salt and pepper.
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Sear roast on all sides in a skillet until browned.
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Place potatoes and carrots in slow cooker and top with roast.
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Whisk together onion soup mix and beef broth and pour over meat.
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Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours until very tender.
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Transfer roast to a plate, tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
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Serve carved roast with veggies and juices for an easy, comforting meal.
So for incredible beef roast made simple, reach for a boneless chuck roast on your next trip to the market. Then get ready to enjoy the ultimate tender, flavor-packed pot roast from your slow cooker.
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What cut of meat should I use for Slow Cooker Roast Beef?
We had a lot of tests and found that the topside of beef is the best cut for a slow cooker Sunday roast beef. Topside is a lean cut that comes from the top of the cow’s rear-end. This recipe works so well when cooked slowly because the meat breaks down so much that it melts in your mouth.
Topside also cuts really nicely. It doesn’t fall apart when it’s done (looking at you, brisket!) and you can cut it into pretty slices (as you can see from our pictures!). It’s still very tender and tasty.
For the price, topside is one of the less expensive roasting joints you can find in stores. This makes it a great choice for a cheap Sunday roast. Brilliant if you have a lot of mouths to feed!.
Important note for our friends in the US and Canada: cows are killed and named differently over there. Look for a “top round”.
What’s the best gravy for Roast Beef?
The most flavoursome gravy is made with the meat juices produced whilst cooking the meat. The beef in this recipe is cooked in red wine and beef stock. At the end, the stock is reduced, seasoned, and changed, so nothing is wasted. I can’t explain to you how good the red wine gravy in this recipe is!.
The gravy needs to be the right thickness. If it’s too watery, it won’t taste good, and if it’s too thick, it won’t pour. After the meat is cooked, make sure you reduce it enough. If it gets too thick or too thin, you can either add boiling water or thin it out even more until you’re happy with the consistency.
Do not think that using a more expensive bottle of wine will make the gravy taste better. It is not necessary to use an expensive bottle. Any bottle of red you have in the cupboard will be absolutely fine.
Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast Recipe – How to Make Flavorful Beef Pot Roast in the Slow Cooker
FAQ
What is the most tender beef roast for a slow cooker?
What is the best cut of beef for a slow roast?
What kind of beef roast falls apart?
What cuts of beef do you need for a slow cooker roast?
For a tender slow cooker roast use cheaper cuts of beef that are tough and have plenty of marbling running through them. These cuts include boneless chuck roast, brisket, and various types of round roast. Keep reading to find out exactly what you should look for at the store for that perfect piece of beef for slow roasting.
Can you cook roast beef in a slow cooker?
While cuts from the loin are a great choice for oven-cooked roast beef, they’re not the best choice for slow cooking because they’re so lean. Instead, cuts from the round are the best choice for slow cooker roast beef. Round cuts come from the cow’s hindquarters which get worked more and are on the tougher side.
What is the best cut of beef for slow cooking?
Here are some of my favorites to look out for: Often regarded as the ultimate pot roast cut of beef, Chuck Roast is a popular choice for slow cooking due to its excellent marbling. Coming from around the shoulder area at the front of the cow, this is a very tough piece of meat as it’s mainly composed of hard-working muscle.
Can you cook a round roast in a slow cooker?
Instead, cuts from the round are the best choice for slow cooker roast beef. Round cuts come from the cow’s hindquarters which get worked more and are on the tougher side. But that’s OK, because the gentle heat from the slow cooker coaxes the beef into a tender bite. This recipe calls for eye of round roast.